The most important immune supportive approaches are not supplements, but lifestyle modifications: Get adequate sleepDo at least 30 minutes/day of dedicated stress reductionMaximize your intake of nutrient dense foods (great article)Minimize toxic ... [Read More]
About Brian D. Lawenda, M.D.
Treating Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men (after skin cancer). Depending on the stage of your cancer, the management options may include: Non-metastatic prostate cancer may be treated with: Watchful waiting. Active surveillance. If the ... [Read More]
Who Should Consider Genetic Testing For Hereditary Mutations?
Everyone with a Breast Cancer History Should Get Testing If you have a personal history of breast cancer, you might want to consider getting tested for BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2 (and other hereditary cancer mutations), regardless of your family ... [Read More]
Why You Need To Know About Functional Drug Sensitivity Testing
There are some pretty big questions people need to ask before they agree to a chemotherapy regimen, especially if treatment was based on guidelines alone. Can the doctor do a better job of predicting which cancer drug(s) will have the best chance ... [Read More]
Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI)
Whenever possible, I offer my patients with early stage breast cancer a very short, 5-day radiation technique, at Northwest Cancer Clinic, called “accelerated partial breast irradiation” (APBI). If eligibility criteria are met, APBI is a great ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda’s 2020 Perspective on Vitamin C in Cancer Care
The use of vitamin C in cancer prevention and treatment is a controversial topic in oncology. Unless you are already using vitamin C, you may be surprised on what you’ll read. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Since ... [Read More]
Are You Reducing Your Cancer Cell Glucose Metabolism? (AntiCancer Glucose Score)
While most cancers can fuel themselves on glucose, fatty acids, ketones and amino acids, their preferred energy source is glucose (due to the Warburg effect). Calculate your IOE AntiCancer Glucose Score. Use this app to learn how changes in ... [Read More]
How AntiCancer Are You? (Simple Online Calculator)
These basic (and modifiable) lifestyle variables are among the most highly associated with cancer development, recurrence and progression. Calculate your risk score with this simple online tool. ... [Read More]
Lymphedema After Cancer Treatment
Up to 5 million Americans suffer from lymphedema, mostly as a result of cancer treatment. This is a chronic condition that can develop as a consequence of surgery and/or radiation therapy to the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, pelvis and groin ... [Read More]
Why Micronutrient Testing is Important for Cancer Patients and Survivors
Background: Dr. Lawenda recommends getting your micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) tested. Some assays also include testing of your amino acids and fatty acids. Did you know that most adults in the U.S. are deficient in multiple micronutrients? ... [Read More]
Why Gut Testing and Health is Important for Cancer Patients and Survivors
Background: Dr. Lawenda recommends periodic testing of GI microbiome health (microbial DNA assay), inflammation and leaky gut status, and adequacy of digestive enzymes. These issues can lead to a host of downstream effects that can promote cancer ... [Read More]
30 or 60-Minute Video or Phone Consultation
CONSULTATIONS WITH DR. LAWENDA Patients often wish to cover a variety of topics during our consultations, including: Your current, upcoming or past treatments (I can address the latest expert consensus guidelines, state of the art treatments, ... [Read More]
Use of Off-Label Drugs and Supplements in Cancer in 2020
Targeting cancer cell metabolism, growth signaling pathways and enhancing anti-cancer immunity are among the hottest topics being explored in oncology, today. It has become increasingly clear that many natural compounds, supplements and FDA-approved ... [Read More]
Get Strong, Calm and Grounded with Yoga
By Dr. Brian Lawenda, Conner Middelmann and Jenifer Linville (Founder, Unity Yoga of Tri-Cities, Richland, WA) If the thought of strenuous exercise scares you, you might want to try yoga. More and more people undergoing cancer treatment and ... [Read More]
Should You Take Probiotics and Prebiotics?
What is the Microbiome? Did you know that there are 10-times more microbes on and in the human body than there are human cells? We call the collection of these microbes our "microbiome." The majority of these microbes (which weigh as much as 5 ... [Read More]
IOE (No Drug) Sleep Tips
Many people nowadays struggle with sleep – getting to sleep, staying asleep or both – but people undergoing cancer treatment tend to be particularly affected by sleep problems. The causes vary. Insomnia may be due to anxiety, depression, ... [Read More]
Is It Safe To Take Antioxidants During Cancer Treatment?
Antioxidant Effects The question of whether it is safe to take antioxidants during chemotherapy or radiation therapy is not a simple one to answer. Experts have been trying to definitively answer this question for many years, but it remains very ... [Read More]
How to Reduce Your Risk of Blood Clots (DVT and PE)
Cancer patients have an elevated risk of developing life-threatening blood clots. For some patients, the type of cancer they have can trigger blood clots. Some cancers actually produce substances which can activate the clotting cascade and produce ... [Read More]
Cannabis for Cancer Patients
Cannabinoids are a class of diverse chemical compounds that acts on cannabinoid receptors in cells, altering neurotransmitter release in the brain. They are commonly associated with and found in marijuana. There are also similar compounds within the ... [Read More]
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Radiation Side Effects
Do you have longterm side effects from your prior radiation treatment? Hyperbaric oxygen therapy “HBOT” (breathing 100% oxygen while inside a pressurized chamber) may be a very effective treatment for radiation damaged tissues. Who Might ... [Read More]
Why You Should Know Your Epigenetic Age
Did you know that the older your epigenetic age relative to your chronological age the greater your risk of developing cancer and dying from cancer? The study below found exactly this. ... [Read More]
Going To A Spa: What Cancer Patients & Survivors Need to Know
Your skin is your body’s largest organ and what you put on it and how you treat it really does matter. It is also your first-line of defense against the numerous toxins and infectious organisms you come into contact with every day. If you have cancer ... [Read More]
Low FODMAP Diet Reduces GI Inflammation
One of the most common causes of intestinal inflammation is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), affecting 10% of adults in the U.S. Since inflammation in the gut can cause systemic inflammation (a key driver of cancer), it’s one of the important factors ... [Read More]
I Recommend Taking A Personalized Probiotic
Your gut microbiome is essential in maintaining a healthy immune system, low systemic inflammation, insulin sensitivity, psychoemotional balance, neurocognitive health, nutrient absorption, metabolism and elimination of toxic compounds, barrier ... [Read More]
Proton Beam Therapy in Cancer Treatment
The number of proton beam therapy (PBT) centers continues to grow despite their high construction and operational costs, as well as the insurance barriers for patients to access this treatment. If cost was not a factor, most oncologists, ... [Read More]
Not All Generic Drugs Are The Same
Most people believe that generic drugs are identical to the brand name. When you get a dispensed drug, you likely don’t think about who makes it. Your pharmacy may switch you from a brand to generic, or they may switch between generics. Did you ... [Read More]
Lab Tests To Biohack Your Cancer
Cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases are more likely to develop in individuals who have the following conditions: Impaired immune systemChronic, low-level, systemic inflammationInsulin resistanceNutrient deficienciesGut ... [Read More]
Breast Cancer Survivors: 5 Years or Longer Of Endocrine Therapy
This is a big question asked by most hormone receptor positive breast cancer survivors. The data clearly shows an improvement in outcomes when taking 5 years of endocrine therapy, and recent studies report additional benefits when continuing to take ... [Read More]
Ketogenic Diet 101: Everything You Need To Know On The What, How And Who
Watch The 4-Minute Preview Above The ketogenic diet is another hot topic. Everyone who has attended my popular talks on this subject walks away with a much greater understanding and appreciation of this dietary approach to weight loss and health ... [Read More]
What Every Health Care Provider and Patient Should Know About Medical Cannabinoids
Watch the 4-Minute Trailer Above Medical cannabinoids is a hot topic. Everyone who has attended my popular talks on this subject walks away with a much greater understanding and appreciation of this natural medicine. -Dr. Lawenda Topics Covered ... [Read More]